As evolution of things demands, an NBA star who spends his entire career with one team is becoming more and more rare. Stephen Curry stands as a current one who might, but good luck finding one after him. In the wake of another losing season for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the subject of Karl Anthony Towns’ future is natural to resurface.
Via the team’s website, Towns has attempted to quell any speculation about his future. He’d even like to follow in the footsteps of a couple Hall of Famers-Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan.
I hope to have a career like Kobe, with one team,” Towns said, per Shahbaz Khan of Timberwolves.com. “Like Tim and Kobe, where it’s one team and try to bring as many championships as possible.”
I just really am happy that I’m able to still be here playing for this amazing city and state and be able to stay here and affect change in the community,” Towns said. “I’m just so happy that I’ve been given a chance to play here in Minnesota all these years.”
Related: Tom Thibodeau would be open to reuniting with Karl-Anthony Towns
Minnesota has made the playoffs just once since Towns was drafted No. 1 overall in 2015. That’s also their only postseason trip since 2004.
Karl-Anthony Towns=Anthony Davis, Part 2?
Towns has three years left on his max deal, through 2023-24. But let’s remember the situation with Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans, as an easy comp to Towns and the Timberwolves right now. Having term left on a contract did not prevent a difficult situation between a losing team and a frustrated star player. Or what amounted to a forced trade. Minnesota will not have their first-round pick either this year (top-3 protected) or next (unprotected). So continuing to build around Towns will require some creativity from team president Gersson Rosas.
Going against the grain and being a one-team star for an entire career is a nice thought. Towns continues to say the right things about his future with the Timberwolves. Lest he draw ire, of course. Get back to me in a year to see if Towns is saying the same thing he is now. Apart from that, what might surface in terms of rumors to contradict Towns’ public-pleasing words?
